Gypsophila plant named ‘Dangypwhifa’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Gypsophila  plant named ‘Dangypwhifa’ characterized by having globular-shaped, double flowers, 10-11 mm in diameter; conic, bright white flowers arranged in clusters, creating a wide and impressive conic structure; 7-9 stems per plant in first flash; medium flash duration; erect, stable growth habit, branching from lower part of main stem, 80-90 cm in height; uniformly good quality of inflorescence year round; good post-production longevity, with vase life of 10-14 days; and commercially suitable product, marketed as a cut flower.

Latin name of the genus and species of the claimed plant: Gypsophilapaniculata (hybrid).

Variety denomination: ‘Dangypwhifa’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofGypsophila plant, botanically known as Gypsophila paniculata,hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Dangypwhifa’.

Gypsophila, of the Carophyllaceae family, consists of hardy annuals andperennials which are grown in various parts of the United States andEurope. Gypsophila plants are commonly called either Baby's Breath orChalk Plant.

The new Gypsophila cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a newGypsophila variety with large, globular-shaped, double, bright whiteflowers; good vase life; and ease in harvesting variety.

The new Gypsophila cultivar was originated from a cross made in acontrolled breeding program by the inventor in May of 2001, in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female parent is the hybrid line designated‘CV.2088’ (unpatented). The male parent is the hybrid line designated‘CV-184’ (unpatented). The new Gysophila cultivar ‘Dangypwhifa’ wasdiscovered and selected by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by removing cutting from theinitial plant was first performed in March of 2002 in Moshav MishmarHashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The instant plant reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘Dangypwhifa’ which in combinationdistinguish this Gypsophila as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1) Globular-shaped, double flower, 10-11 mm in diameter;    -   2) Conic, bright white flowers arranged in clusters, creating a        wide and impressive conic structure;    -   3) 7-9 stems per plant in first flash;    -   4) Medium flash duration;    -   5) Erect, stable growth habit, branching from lower part of main        stem, 80-90 cm in height;    -   6) Uniformly good quality of inflorescence year round;    -   7) Good post-production longevity, with vase life of 10-14 days;        and    -   8) Commercially suitable product, marketed as a cut flower.

Table 1 provides a comparison among plants of ‘Dangypwhifa’ and plantsof the parents, ‘CV-184’ and ‘CV.2088’:

TABLE 1 Female Parent Male Parent Trait ‘Dangypwhifa’ ‘CV.2088’ ‘CV-184’Flower Width: 9-12 mm Width: 9-12 mm Width: 9-12 mm Color: bright whiteColor: white Color: white Vaselife: 10-12 Vaselife: 10-12 Vaselife:10-12 days days days Inflorescence Conic shape Conic shape Conic - open900-1000 flowers 900-1000 flowers shape per flowering per flowering900-1000 flowers stem stem per flowering stem Yield 7-9 6-7 8-9 (stemsper plant in first flash) Growth Bush, branching Bush, branching BushHabit from plant base from plant base Height: 70-80 cm Height: 80-90 cmHeight: 80-90 cm Flowering Medium Medium Medium time

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to ‘Dangypwhifa’ is the Gysophila cultivar‘Danapurna’ (unpatented). In side-by-side comparisons conducted inMoshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, plants of ‘Dangywhifa’ differed fromplants of ‘Danapurna’ in the following characteristics provided in Table2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘Dangypwhifa’ ‘Danapurna’ Flower color Whitegroup, White group, RHS 155D RHS 155D Inflorescence Conic Flowersconcentrate Formation at upper part Yield (stems 7-9 10-12 per plant infirst flash) Stem height 80-90 70-80 (cm) Flowering 1 week less thanMedium time ‘Danapurna’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Gypsophila cultivar ‘Dangypwhifa’ showing the colors as trueas is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolor of ‘Dangypwhifa’.

The first photograph shows a side view perspective of a flowering stemof ‘Dangypwhifa’.

The second photograph shows a close-up view of a single flower of‘Dangypwhifa’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Gypsophila cultivar ‘Dangypwhifa’ has not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivarmay vary significantly with variations in environment such astemperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in thegenotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new Gypsophilacultivar as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel,under conditions which closely approximate those generally used incommercial practice.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), except where general colors of ordinary significance areused. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately12:00 p.m. in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age of the plantdescribed is 10 weeks.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Hybrid of Gypsophila paniculata.        -   Commercial.—Gypsophila ‘White Fire’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Hybrid line designated ‘CV.2088’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Hybrid line designated ‘CV-184’ (unpatented).-   Origin: F1 hybrid.-   Propagation: Stem cutting.-   Plant:-   General appearance and form:    -   -   Height.—80-90 cm.        -   Width.—50-60 cm.        -   Habit.—Weak, apical dominance, branching from plant base.        -   Form.—Upright bush type.-   Flowering response: Long day.-   Flowering season: Naturally during summer. All year with    supplemental lighting.-   Winter hardiness: Sensitive to temperatures below 9-10 C.-   Lastingness of the individual bloom: 10-12 days.-   Rooting: Use rooting hormone.-   Foliage:-   Overall shape of leaf: Lanceolate.-   Base: Truncate.-   Tip: Acuminate.-   Margin: Entire.-   Texture: Rough.-   Main color of upper surface:    -   -   Mature leaf.—Green, RHS 137 A.        -   Immature leaf.—Green, RHS 137 A.-   Main color of lower surface:    -   -   Mature leaf.—Green, RHS 137 B.        -   Immature leaf.—Green, RHS 137 B.-   Venation color:    -   -   Upper surface.—None.        -   Lower surface.—None.-   Size:    -   -   Length.—9-10 cm.        -   Width.—1.3-1.5 cm.-   Stipules: None.-   Petiole: None.-   Inflorescence:-   Natural flowering season: Long day.-   Inflorescence size:    -   -   Length.—40-60 cm.        -   Width.—30-40 cm.-   Fragrance: Typical to Gypsophila.-   Corolla:    -   -   Form.—Double flower.        -   Shape.—Globular.        -   Average number.—900-1000 flowers per flowering stem.        -   Depth.—4-5 mm.        -   Diameter.—10-11 mm.-   Petal:    -   -   Petal number.—45-50.        -   Petal shape.—Overall: Spatulate with tip emarginated. Apex:            Obtuse and Emarginate. Base: Acute.        -   Petal markings.—None.        -   Length.—4-6 mm.        -   Width.—1-2 mm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Margin color.—White, RHS 155D.        -   Petal color.—Upper surface: White, RHS 155 D. Lower surface:            White, RHS 155 D.-   Sepal:    -   -   Sepal number.—5-6.        -   Sepal shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Length.—3-4 mm.        -   Width.—1.5 mm.        -   Margin.—Both surfaces: Entire.        -   Margin color.—Transparent, white group, RHS 155 D.        -   Sepal color.—Upper surface: Green group, RHS 137 C. Lower            surface: Green group, RHS 137 B.-   Stem:    -   -   Number per plant.—7-9 in first flash.        -   Average length.—80-90 cm.        -   Average diameter.—5-6 mm.        -   Internode length.—4-6 cm.        -   Color.—Yellow-Green, RHS 144 B.        -   Lateral branches.—4-10.-   Spur: None.-   Bud:    -   -   Response.—Long day.        -   Color.—Yellow group, RHS 2 D.        -   Size before opening.—Height: 3 mm. Diameter: 4 mm.        -   Shape.—Oblate.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Pedicel length.—8-10 mm.        -   Pedicel color.—Yellow-Green, RHS 146 A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Appearance and angle.—Thyrse, 35.        -   Length.—80-90 cm.        -   Diameter.—5-6 mm.        -   Strength.—Stable and moderately strong.        -   Color.—Yellow-Green, RHS 144B.-   Reproductive organs:-   Androecium:-   Stamen:    -   -   Number.—5-10 (seldom seen).        -   Color.—White group, RHS 155D (transparent).-   Anthers:    -   -   Number.—5-10 (seldom seen).        -   Color.—Orange-white group, RHS 159 D.-   Pollen:    -   -   Amount.—A lot.        -   Color.—Orange-white group, RHS 159 D.-   Gynoecium:-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—2.        -   Shape.—Convex.        -   Color.—White group, RHS 155 D (transparent).-   Ovary:    -   -   Color.—Yellow-green group, RHS 144 D.-   Seeds:    -   -   Width.—1 mm.        -   Length.—1 mm.        -   Shape.—Kidney-shaped.        -   Texture.—Canescent.        -   Color.—Brown group, RHS 200 A.-   Fruit:    -   -   Width.—2-3 mm.        -   Length.—2-3 mm.        -   Shape.—Oblate with conical tip.        -   Color.—Greyed-yellow group, RHS 161 A.-   Disease resistance: No information is currently available.-   Disease susceptibility: No information is currently available.

1. A new and distinct Gypsophila plant named ‘Dangypwhifa’,substantially as illustrated and described herein.